25. A2 - Catastrophe
Luna Pixie Yuna's room.
Lumia Star's live broadcast flicked on.
"Hello! It's Lumia Star here!"
"I'm turning on this broadcast to announce my return as a magical girl!"
A woman stared at the broadcast, letting out a hollow laugh.
Luna Pixie Yuna.
In her eyes, Lumia Star and Han Siwoo were nothing more than the enemy's puppets. Fallen Ones and villains conspiring together.
It was revolting. How dare a Fallen One try to deceive humanity?
"Our next broadcast! We'll head straight to an A-rank disaster and film it live!"
Running the scene themselves? A villain and a traitor charging into the field.
Could villains and traitors kill Dimensional Monsters?
They couldn't.
It was a proven fact from experiments. It had nothing to do with the monsters' ranks or anything like that.
Villains and Fallen Ones couldn't inflict physical damage on Dimensional Monsters. Another proven fact.
That alone was proof they were Fallen Ones and villains.
But... there was one problem.
Would they not know that? No, they were planning to turn it against everyone.
In their debut battle, they'd kill Dimensional Monsters right in front of everyone to prove their innocence. Using some clever trick, of course.
Cunning bastards.
If it weren't for me, no one would have exposed their ugly true faces. No, if Myohwa Serin hadn't sacrificed herself, humanity—South Korea—would have plunged into an even deeper abyss.
Myohwa Serin, I won't forget your sacrifice. So leave the rest to me.
She had something special given to her by the chief of the Heretic Inquisition herself.
A device that can summon monsters up to C5-grade—something even a 3rd-rank magical girl could handle alone.
But the perfect tool to prove they were Fallen Ones and villains.
She was lost in those thoughts when a message arrived from the chief.
The grand plan was unfolding faster than expected.
The operation was as follows.
Operation Plan
1. Release the Dimensional Monster into the command center.
2. Lure it toward Han Siwoo.
3. Film Lumia Star failing to handle the Dimensional Monster from the rearmost position.
Simple, but somehow insane.
Manhattan Night. The incident where half of New York was obliterated due to a 1st-rank magical girl's betrayal.
Yes... This was all for justice, after all. So I was doing the right thing.
A nagging doubt crept in that something was off, but she didn't want to dwell on it. She chose to believe the orders from a 1st-gen magical girl chief couldn't be wrong.
The heart of the Korean Association. The Dimensional Monster Control Room.
"A2-grade disaster in progress!"
"Activate Code Red!"
"What are you waiting for? Contact Japan now!"
"China's still tied up with their own A2—they can't dispatch anyone!"
"Japan's responding! They can send three 1st-rank magical girls."
"Lumia Star's coming back—should we reach out to her too?"
"It's Code Red. Send everyone we can!"
An A2-grade catastrophe.
A-grade disasters were national crises by default. B-grade wrecked cities.
1st and 2nd-ranks handled raids for those. 3rd to 5th could be managed by small teams or solos.
So an A2 was an unprecedented emergency requiring every 1st-rank and as many 2nd-ranks as possible.
"An A2 catastrophe hit Busan—they're calling everyone in!"
Lumia came running with her phone, shouting.
"A2 is way too dangerous!"
A2 wasn't something to tackle in her current condition. At that level, losing one or two magical girls wouldn't even be accountable. It was a catastrophe.
"It's fine. I decided to come back. If I'm gonna be a star, I can't hide."
"But..."
Lumia wasn't in normal shape. If something went wrong again...
"Perfect for a flashy comeback, right? And I'm stronger now—watch me shine on the battlefield."
She smiled as she said it, but she had to be anxious deep down. No matter how tough she acted, magical girls were human too.
"If I go, I can prevent hundreds of casualties. I have to do this."
She was stubborn. The Lumia Star I loved... was like that.
I understood her. No point arguing. Time for a compromise.
"One condition, then."
"Anything! I'll make it happen!"
"Stay out of the front lines. Absolutely."
"Hmm, fine. I'll show you perfect coordination from the rear."
"Thanks for listening."
"Thank you for trusting and supporting me, Siwoo."
"No big deal."
We smiled as we geared up to head out.
"First gig as your manager, then."
"Looks like it."
The A2 catastrophe command center. Broadcast chatter echoed everywhere. As Lumia Star's manager and handler, I'd taken my place here.
With dozens of magical girls involved, reps from each management team swarmed the room.
Drones filled the skies by the thousands, capturing footage of dozens of magical girls.
Dimensional Monsters surged from beyond the coastline.
"You're the lead handler for Lumia Star's comeback, right?"
"Ah, yeah. And you are...?"
"Yumi Young, team leader from Lumia Star's agency."
She handed me her business card.
"Since Lumia's in support, we'll use double-shot filming."
"Oh, got it!"
Double-shot. Over-the-shoulder shots, capturing support magical girls alongside to maximize their impact.
"This way first..."
It was chaos. I'd researched for Lumia, so I could keep up somewhat.
But it was still overwhelming.
Information flew too fast. Magical girls barely held back the monsters swarming the coast, drones filming while maintaining command links.
If any broke from the line or got hurt, call it out. Link with the nearest magical girl to rescue them from crisis.
Each management team had to coordinate minimal safety and command directives. No room for errors here—this was the heart of the warzone.
Now it all felt real.
"Yuna support! Alpha Tricis Building! Air support overhead!"
Info flew frantically everywhere.
I monitored Lumia shining brilliantly on the screens, buried in data sorting and backups as her manager. But the battlefield's pace was brutally fast for a rookie like me.
"Tough, huh? It's okay. I heard the story—take a break."
"Thanks."
I learned not just magical girls were heroes on the front lines.
People dashing full tilt behind them for support. So many of them.
Hidden in the shadows, no spotlight, but their greatness shone through. Together, they repelled the massive A2 catastrophe.
Most of the site was cleared; everyone focused on cleanup.
"Survivor in Union Building 22nd floor—Elia magical girl, hurry!"
"Dimensional Monster Squadron 22 breaching defenses!"
"Support for Uni on Route 2!"
"Alleon Building additional..."
Still, thanks to Lumia's performance, casualties stayed low.
Her blessings poured down: countless heals, barriers, buffs, enchants.
She was practically the star of this battle.
Everything perfect.
Until the weird noise.
Beeeeeeeep—
An ear-splitting screech. But no one noticed.
What the hell?
I glanced out the window.
A hooded woman stood there.
Below her, shattered glass scattered. Something sticky and slimy oozed up.
What is that?
Before I could wonder, space tore open. Monsters poured from the rift.
The hooded figure was gone.
"Dimensional Monster...?"
Urban legends whispered of devices that could summon them...
The monster started crawling out.
Fuck...
I turned back.
Everyone slaved away at their posts.
If this place went down, the front lines would collapse. Even if most enemies were cleared...
A hole in the line meant bigger losses. More deaths.
What to do? I urgently called the rearmost Lumia.
"Lumia!"
"Ah! Siwoo... manager!"
"Get back here now—a Dimensional Monster appeared."
"What? How. Okay, on my way."
"I'll buy time—hurry!"
"What do you mean..."
"Siwoo! Siwoo!!!!"
Her tearing voice came through, but I ripped off the headset.
Yumi Young grasped it.
"Dimensional Monster...? Siwoo, we need to evacuate now."
"No, that risks the front lines. It's low-grade—I'll draw its attention away."
"That's suicide!"
"It's fine. For all of you who always protect us, this is the least I can do."
Magical girls weren't the only heroes. These people were precious heroes too.
"Keep the front lines focused. Got a pistol or rifle?"
"Pistol in security supplies... Let the guards—"
"They're for civilians, not monsters! Can't send them to die."
I wouldn't push untakable responsibility on others. I'd handle it.
I trusted my stamina. Dodge well, and I could hold till Lumia arrived.
It looked D-grade, weak. At least buy time till she got here. The center was far from the front—for safe briefings.
"It's okay. I can do this."
I slipped out the back door. Lumia in 1 minute? 2 tops.
Aimed the handed pistol.
"You bastard! Over here!"
Fired at what looked like its inner eye.
Bang! Bang-bang!
Luckily, aggro stuck. Bullets did jack, though.
"Fuck, here!"
Confirmed it charging, bolted.
Bang! Bang!
Glanced back—yep, chasing.
"Come on, kill me!"
It kept coming.
Good.
Just hold out with these legs...
Squelch.
A gruesome sound.
"What...?"
Something pierced me. Looked down.
"Fuck..."
Hole in my gut. Burning heat spread.
Ah...
Body flew.
Crash!
Slammed into the wall.
Every breath tore like knives.
"Guh... ack..."
Am I dying here? Body shook against my will.
"Don't wanna die."
I met Lumia. I'm truly happy.
Living so happily. Squeezed eyes shut.
Would Lumia grieve? Hope she doesn't suffer too much because of me.
Body probably crushed—saw the concrete crack. Sensation fading.
Monster approached slowly.
Creeeeak—Boom!
A spear of light stabbed down. The monster split, dissolving into light particles.
Ah, she made it. Good.
My sacrifice meant something.
Wanna see Lumia's face one last time. But eyes keep closing.